The following is a statement from the Vincentian Family Social Justice Representatives of North America for education and formation of members:

Vincentian Family Social Justice Representatives’
Statement in Support of Our Muslim Brothers and Sisters

The Vincentian Family Social Justice Representatives embrace the call of Pope Francis in this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy:

There is an aspect of mercy that goes beyond the confines of the Church …
Among the privileged names that Islam attributes to the Creator are “Merciful and Kind.” This invocation is often on the lips of faithful Muslims who feel themselves accompanied and sustained by mercy in their daily weakness. They too believe that no one can place a limit on divine mercy because its doors are always open. I trust that this Jubilee year celebrating the mercy of God will foster an encounter with these religions and with other noble religious traditions; may it open us to even more fervent dialogue so that we might know and understand one another better; may it eliminate every form of closed-mindedness and disrespect, and drive out every form of violence and discrimination. 1

Likewise, we embrace Pope Francis’ conviction from an earlier document:

Faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalizations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Quran are opposed to every form of violence.2

The Vincentian Family Social Justice Representatives commit to publicize within our branches and with all groups and individuals with whom we interact this Statement in Support of our Muslim Sisters and Brothers.

The social justice representatives of the Vincentian Family of North America include:
– Congregation of the Mission – Eastern and Western Provinces

– Ladies of Charity USA

– Sisters of Charity Federation office

– Sisters of Charity of Halifax, NS

– Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, KY

– Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, PA

– Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, NY

– Vincentian Lay Missionaries – MISEVI-USA

– Daughters of Charity – Provinces of St. Louise and the West

– Sisters of Charity Federation NGO

– Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, OH

– Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, KS

– Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, SC

– Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, NJ

– Society of St. Vincent de Paul Canada

– Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA

Click the following link for a PDF copy of this statement: FamVin Social Justice Muslim statement 2-2016.

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1 The Face of Mercy, the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, April 11, 2015, 23.
2 The Joy of the Gospel, Apostolic Exhortation, November 2013, 253